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Borderlands is already released. The live-action science-fiction action comedy opened in U.S. theaters on August 9, 2024, arrived on digital services on August 30, 2024, and reached DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD on October 22, 2024. Directed by Eli Roth, it stars Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, and Jack Black as the voice of Claptrap.
Updated August 9, 2026: This guide covers the film’s current U.S. viewing options, official trailers, cast, story, relationship to the games, rating, production history, reception, box office, and sequel status. Streaming availability and review scores can change, so time-sensitive information is dated.
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Borderlands at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film | Borderlands (2024) |
| Type | Live-action science-fiction action comedy |
| U.S. theatrical release | August 9, 2024 |
| Director | Eli Roth |
| Screenplay | Eli Roth and Joe Crombie |
| Cast | Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Black, Édgar Ramírez, and others |
| Rating | PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language, and some suggestive material |
| Runtime | 102 minutes; some services list 100 minutes or 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Based on | The Gearbox and 2K video-game franchise |
| Current status | Released; U.S. availability varies by subscription, ad-supported, rental, purchase, and physical-media platform |
The release dates, rating, runtime, and box-office information are listed by The Numbers, while the official synopsis and credits appear on the film’s official site.
Is Borderlands already released?
Yes. Borderlands is not an upcoming movie or a game sequel. Some international territories began showing it on August 7, 2024, followed by the U.S. wide theatrical and IMAX release on August 9.
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The film’s home-entertainment rollout followed quickly:
- Digital release: August 30, 2024.
- Physical release: October 22, 2024, on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD.
The August 30 date refers to digital home entertainment. It should not automatically be described as the date the movie became available through a subscription streaming service, because those rights vary by country and platform.
Where can you watch Borderlands now?
For U.S. viewers, the latest availability check listed the film on the Starz Apple TV Channel and free with ads through The Roku Channel. It was also listed for digital rental or purchase through services including Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store, and Fandango at Home. Availability was checked for this update and can change without a new release announcement.
- Subscription: Starz Apple TV Channel.
- Free with ads: The Roku Channel.
- Rent or buy digitally: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and other retailers listed by JustWatch U.S.
- Own on disc: DVD, Blu-ray, or 4K Ultra HD editions released October 22, 2024.
A rental is a one-time transaction and is different from subscription streaming. Likewise, a title appearing on an Apple TV Channel does not necessarily mean it is included with every Apple TV+ subscription. Viewers outside the United States should check the listing for their own country; a film can be available on a different service, or unavailable, depending on regional rights.
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Do not assume that an older article saying the movie is on Prime Video, or that it is free with a particular subscription, remains accurate. The current JustWatch listing is the most useful starting point for checking services and rental options in the U.S.
Official Borderlands trailers
Lionsgate released two major trailers. The first introduces the premise and team; the second shows more of the action and comedy and reveals more plot details.
Official Trailer
Released by Lionsgate Movies on February 21, 2024, the Official Trailer introduces Lilith’s return to Pandora, the rescue mission involving Atlas’s daughter, and the unlikely team assembled around her. It also establishes the film’s colorful, fast-moving action-comedy tone.
Final Trailer
Released on July 24, 2024, the Final Trailer promotes the theatrical and IMAX release and includes additional creatures, antagonists, action sequences, and comic set pieces. It is more revealing than the first trailer, so viewers avoiding extra plot information may want to watch only the official trailer.
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What is the movie about?
Borderlands follows Lilith, a bounty hunter who returns to the dangerous planet Pandora after being hired to find the missing daughter of Atlas, a powerful businessman. To complete the mission, she assembles a team consisting of the mercenary Roland, the explosives expert Tiny Tina, Tina’s heavily armored protector Krieg, the scientist Dr. Patricia Tannis, and the wisecracking robot Claptrap.
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The group encounters Pandora’s bandits, alien creatures, corporate interests, and the mystery surrounding a Vault. The official premise emphasizes the rescue mission and the team’s search for the Vault without requiring viewers to know the game story first.
This is a spoiler-light description: the film’s central setup is clear from the trailers, but the article does not reveal its ending or later twists.
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| Actor | Character | Role in the film |
|---|---|---|
| Cate Blanchett | Lilith | A bounty hunter and the story’s central protagonist. |
| Kevin Hart | Roland | A mercenary seeking redemption. |
| Ariana Greenblatt | Tiny Tina | A young explosives expert and the person at the center of Atlas’s rescue mission. |
| Florian Munteanu | Krieg | Tiny Tina’s physically imposing protector. |
| Jamie Lee Curtis | Dr. Patricia Tannis | A scientist and Vault expert. |
| Jack Black | Claptrap | The voice of the franchise’s talkative robot. |
| Édgar Ramírez | Atlas | A powerful businessman and Tina’s father. |
| Gina Gershon | Mad Moxxi | A familiar Borderlands character associated with Pandora’s underworld. |
| Janina Gavankar | Commander Knoxx | A film character connected to the Atlas operation. |
| Haley Bennett | Lilith’s mother | A figure in Lilith’s backstory. |
| Olivier Richters | Krom | An antagonistic figure. |
| Benjamin Byron Davis | Marcus | A returning character from the game franchise. |
| Ryann Redmond | Ellie | A supporting character drawn from the games. |
| Steven Boyer | Scooter | A supporting franchise character. |
| Bobby Lee | Larry | A supporting role. |
| Charles Babalola | Sir Hammerlock | A character originating in the games. |
| Cheyenne Jackson | Jakobs | A character associated with the Jakobs weapons corporation. |
| Penn Jillette | Cameo role | A small appearance. |
The casting is one of the film’s most noticeable departures from the games. It combines established dramatic performers, comedy stars, and characters associated with different eras of the franchise rather than simply reproducing one game’s playable party. The Apple TV cast listing and the official film site provide the principal credits.
Is the movie based on a specific Borderlands game?
No. Borderlands is a loose, original-story adaptation inspired by the games. It uses the franchise’s Pandora setting, Vault mythology, corporations, weapons, creatures, humor, and recognizable characters, but it does not retell Borderlands, Borderlands 2, or Borderlands 3 scene by scene.
The character lineup is a cross-game remix. Lilith, Roland, Tannis, Moxxi, and Claptrap are associated with the first game and its era, while Tiny Tina, Krieg, Sir Hammerlock, and other characters entered the franchise in later installments. Atlas, as portrayed in the film, is not simply the lead character in a single game storyline. The movie’s rescue plot involving Tina and her father is substantially its own creation.
That means familiarity with the games may help viewers recognize references, names, corporations, and visual details, but it is not necessary to follow the basic story. Conversely, game fans should not expect the movie to function as a condensed version of the original campaign narratives.
Gearbox leadership previously described the film as part of a separate cinematic continuity. It is more precise to call it a separate movie universe or continuity than to declare, without qualification, that every element is simply “not canon.” The GameSpot report on Gearbox’s franchise positioning provides that context.
Direction, writing, and the reshoots
Eli Roth directed the film and shares screenplay credit with Joe Crombie. Production partners included Lionsgate, Arad Productions, Picturestart, Gearbox, and 2K.
Tim Miller, the director of Deadpool, became involved when he oversaw a short period of additional photography while Roth was unavailable. This does not make Miller the film’s credited co-director. Roth remained the credited director, and it is more accurate to say that Miller handled or directed additional photography and reshoots with Roth’s support. Reports about how much of the finished movie came from those reshoots should be treated as production reporting rather than established scene-by-scene fact. TheWrap’s report covers the arrangement.
The adaptation had a long gestation. Lionsgate announced the film project in 2015 in partnership with Take-Two Interactive, Gearbox, and producers Avi and Ari Arad. After multiple writers and years of development, principal photography took place in Hungary from April through June 2021. The extended timeline placed the film’s arrival several years after the original announcement and after major changes in the audience and commercial landscape for video-game adaptations.
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The original announcement is documented by Lionsgate’s 2015 release; development and production details are also summarized in the Rotten Tomatoes editorial guide.
Rating, runtime, and parent-facing content guide
Borderlands is rated PG-13 in the United States for intense sequences of violence and action, language, and some suggestive material. The listed runtime is 102 minutes, although some digital storefronts display 100 minutes or 1 hour 40 minutes, likely because of differing metadata or rounding.
The rating does not mean that the movie is aimed at young children. Parents should expect:
- Stylized action violence involving guns, explosions, creatures, bandits, and peril.
- Frequent combat and a setting built around weapons, criminals, monsters, and corporate conflict.
- Profanity and other language.
- Suggestive jokes or material.
The movie is not equivalent to the games’ M-rated presentation. Its violence is presented in a more broadly accessible, PG-13 form, but the subject matter and humor still make it unsuitable for some younger viewers. The Apple TV listing provides the official U.S. rating and runtime information, while Common Sense Media’s review offers additional parent-focused context.
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Reviews and audience response
The film’s critical reception was overwhelmingly negative. As of the latest 2026 check:
- Rotten Tomatoes: 10% from 167 critics and a 48% verified audience score.
- Metacritic: 26 out of 100 from 36 critic reviews, with a 3.3 out of 10 user score based on 414 user ratings.
These are time-sensitive aggregate scores, not permanent measurements; Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic can change as their databases update. Readers can check the current Rotten Tomatoes page and Metacritic page for live totals.
The recurring criticisms focused on a generic or overcrowded screenplay, broad humor that did not work for many reviewers, uneven visual effects and action staging, and a feeling that the talented cast was underused or mismatched with the material. Critics also frequently pointed to the difference between the games’ adult irreverence and the film’s more restrained PG-13 presentation. In that reading, the movie borrows the surface elements of Borderlands without fully reproducing the character chemistry and distinctive tone that made the games popular.
That response is not universal. Some viewers may enjoy the colorful production design, uncomplicated adventure structure, recognizable cast, or comic-book energy. A fair expectation is that the film may work better as a short, undemanding action comedy for viewers with modest expectations than as a definitive adaptation for devoted game fans.
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The Numbers reports the following theatrical figures:
| Measure | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Domestic opening weekend | $8,601,572 |
| Domestic gross | $15,482,668 |
| International gross | $17,455,628 |
| Worldwide gross | $32,938,296 |
| Estimated production budget | $115 million |
On those figures, the worldwide theatrical gross was only about 29% of the estimated production budget. That is why the movie is reasonably described as a commercial failure. However, box-office gross is not the same as studio profit: theaters retain part of ticket revenue, while marketing, distribution, financing, and other costs are separate from the production budget. The available figures do not support a precise claim about the studio’s net loss.
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Budget estimates in entertainment coverage have varied, so $115 million should be treated as The Numbers’ estimate rather than a confirmed studio accounting figure.
Why did Borderlands struggle?
The box office establishes that the theatrical release underperformed, but it cannot by itself prove the cause. The film’s reviews identify several likely audience barriers: an original plot that many critics considered generic, uneven comedy, visual-effects criticism, and uncertainty over who the movie was really for.
In a later interview reported by GamesRadar, Roth argued that large studio productions can become more risk-averse and said the film attempted to appeal at once to gamers, children, and general audiences. His retrospective diagnosis was that the result “belonged to nobody.” That is Roth’s explanation, not an independently proven account of every production decision, but it helps describe the film’s central positioning problem.
The long development period also provides context. The project was announced in 2015, filmed in 2021, and released in 2024 after changes in the video-game adaptation market and the franchise’s cultural moment. Those circumstances do not automatically determine a film’s quality, but they help explain why the finished movie can feel disconnected from both the games’ original tone and the expectations created by later successful adaptations.
Is there going to be a Borderlands 2 movie?
No officially announced sequel was found in the Lionsgate materials checked for this update. That does not prove a sequel can never happen, but the film’s poor reviews and modest theatrical gross provide no clear basis for assuming that one is in development.
There is also no verified sequel release date, returning-cast announcement, or confirmed story plan to report. Articles or social posts presenting a Borderlands 2 movie as definite should be treated cautiously unless they cite a new official announcement.
Should you watch Borderlands?
For game fans
Watch it as a loose remix rather than a faithful adaptation. You will recognize Pandora, Vault mythology, corporations, weapons, creatures, and several characters, but the film is not a replacement for any of the game campaigns and should not be assumed to share their main canon.
For general moviegoers
The film is short, star-driven, and easy to follow without prior knowledge. However, its very poor critic aggregates suggest renting it rather than buying it sight unseen if you are uncertain. The trailer gives a reasonable indication of its broad, colorful action-comedy approach.
For parents
The PG-13 rating makes it more accessible than the games, but it is not a children’s movie. Check the violence, language, suggestive material, monsters, weapons, and peril against the age and sensitivity of the viewers in your household.
The most defensible recommendation is conditional: it may be worth a low-cost rental for viewers who enjoy game adaptations, ensemble action comedies, or the cast, while viewers seeking a faithful and sharply written Borderlands story should lower their expectations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Borderlands based on the first game?
No. It is a loose adaptation with an original story that borrows characters, locations, Vault mythology, corporations, creatures, and humor from across the franchise. It does not directly retell the first Borderlands game.
Do I need to play the games before watching the movie?
No. The film explains its basic rescue mission and team without requiring game knowledge. Playing the games mainly helps you recognize the returning characters, references, and setting.
Is the Borderlands movie part of the game canon?
Gearbox leadership previously framed it as a separate cinematic continuity. It is best treated as its own movie universe rather than as a direct continuation of the game canon.
Is Borderlands appropriate for children?
It is rated PG-13 for intense violence and action, language, and some suggestive material. It includes weapons, explosions, monsters, peril, profanity, and suggestive jokes, so PG-13 should not be interpreted as a children’s rating.
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The primary listed runtime is 102 minutes. Some digital services display 100 minutes or 1 hour 40 minutes, likely because of metadata differences or rounding.
Is Jack Black the voice of Claptrap?
Yes. Jack Black provides the voice of Claptrap in the film.
Did Tim Miller direct Borderlands?
Eli Roth is the credited director. Tim Miller oversaw or directed additional photography and reshoots while Roth was unavailable; he should not be described without qualification as the film’s co-director.
Why did Borderlands receive poor reviews?
The dominant criticisms involved a generic or overstuffed screenplay, ineffective humor, uneven effects and action, a mismatch between the games’ tone and the PG-13 film, and a cast that critics felt was underused or poorly matched to the material.
Is there a Borderlands 2 movie?
No officially announced sequel was found in the Lionsgate materials checked for this update. There is no verified sequel release date or confirmed story plan.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Borderlands is a released 2024 live-action adaptation with a cross-game cast of characters and an original Pandora adventure—not a movie version of any single numbered game. It can be watched without prior franchise knowledge, but the 10% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, 26 Metacritic score, and roughly $32.9 million worldwide gross reflect a film that struggled critically and commercially. Check the current U.S. listings before watching, and approach it as a colorful, broad action comedy rather than a faithful translation of the games.
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